North Canton K of C Hall a Longtime Kiko Auction Site

Those antique and artworks collectors in the area who believe they have to go to New York City and Sotheby’s to find high-quality auctions may find a surprise if they attend one of the Kiko auctions held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Mississippi Street in North Canton. The building was recently purchased by The Bluecoats, a nonprofit youth music education organization.

Russ Kiko Auctions has held 30 auctions a year at the location since 1974, offering rare and expensive antiques and collectibles.

“We have sold some great stuff from that facility,” said Kiko auctioneer Bill Gill.

“In 2009 we sold a rare Gabel Automatic Entertainer jukebox for $24,500. We once sold a Rolex Submariner watch valued at $10,000 and we’ve sold Victorian-style love seats made by Belter and Meeks.”

More than 100 people were in attendance at an auction in late March where pocket watches and other collectibles along with guns and ammunition were auctioned off. John Slagle, auctioneer and Realtor with Kiko, is a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) and was helping to get the guns ready for bidding.

“Our last sale with guns was an estate sale and we sold a single-action revolver for $6,500,” Slagle said.

“We have over 40 Model 12, 16-gauge shotguns in today’s auction, plus many others. To buy a gun here today, you have to be at least 18 years old for a long gun and 21 years or older to buy a handgun. Because I am a FFL, we can do a background check right here before the person can take the gun.”

People come from all over Northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia for the auctions. A buyer from Montana attended the March gun auction. And, the latest advancement in auctioneering is the ability to go online and bid from anywhere. There were people from 38 different states bidding online at the gun sale.

Collectors, resellers, enthusiasts and people who have a general interest in the items attend the auctions.

“I like to say that 100 percent of the people that attend our auctions are collectors and intend to put the items inside their own house, while 50 percent become resellers or dealers when they have the opportunity to resell the item,” Gill said.

According to Slagle, Kiko will continue to hold auctions at the location and the new owners are planning to reserve Wednesdays for them. Gill said the K of C Hall is one of the nicest consignment facilities in Northeast Ohio because it has plenty of seating, they have the opportunity to provide a food service, it has plenty of good parking,and is conveniently located.

There are auctions scheduled in May and Kiko’s expects to have a few Babe Ruth baseball cards to sell.

To find out the scheduled auction dates, visit Kiko’s website. The listings are in chronological order and the lists of items get posted two to four weeks before the auction date.